Knob and cap assembly



Sept. 5, 1961 E. w. NORTH ETAL KNOB AND CAP ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 16, 1959 United States The present invention relates to a novel knob and cap assembly and more particularly to a standard design knob which is adapted to receive any one of a number of inserts depending on the requirements of usage for the knob.

in the area of household and industrial usage, various types of knob assemblies for use on doors and the like have been devised. Such knobs may carry a key-actuated tumbler lock assembly within the body of the knob, a push button lock or a turn button lock for locking or latching the door from the interior where privacy is desired. Other knobs with a plain or embossed face for gaining access through a passageway by merely turning the knob at either side of a door or closure may be provided without any such locking or latching means. Still others such as for the exterior of a bathroom or toilet, may contain a small opening permitting the insertion of a small screwdriver or other tool to release a turn button or push button lock at the interior when it cannot be opened from the interior by a child or other occupant.

Prior to this invention, an inventory of knob assemblies would need be available for each of the various knobs cited.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a standard form of knob which may be readily converted to a knob assembly for any one of the various types of knobs required. Thus a manufacturer may produce and carry an inventory of only one standard knob with means to convert the knob to any of its various uses.

The present invention further comprehends a novel cap assembly which is readily attached to and anchored upon the standard knob for adapting the knob to a variety of ultimate uses. The cap assembly may have a hole large enough for receiving therein a tumbler lock, push or turn button, or it may have a'small hole through which a small tool such as a screwdriver may be inserted, or it may be devoid of any opening and the cap be given a decorative design.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a standard knob having a novel cap and back plate assembly anchored to the knob in a novel manner to most efliectively mount the cap assembly and convert the knob for use with various types of privacy locks or latching mechanisms.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and such further objects and advantages as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an enlarged side elevational view of the novel knob unit partially broken away to show the details of the cap and back plate assembly.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view on a reduced scale of the complete knob assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in rear elevation of the cap and back plate assembly of FIG. 1 disassociated from the knob.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical. cross section of the cap and back plate assembly of FIG. 3 but before this assembly is affixed to the knob, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the knob assembly partially broken away to show another embodiment of cap assembly. I

atent FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the complete knob and cap and back plate assembly of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of the cap and back plate assembly of FIG. 5.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings in which are shown novel illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 1 discloses a standard knob 11 used in the various knob assemblies hereinafter described and shown. The knob has a cylindrical open end or shank 12 adapted to receive and be mounted upon a tubular part or sleeve projecting through a door for actuating a latching bolt (not shown). The knob is hollow to allow for the insertion therein of any suitable mechanism such as a tumbler lock, push button or turn button, etc., for latching the door from the interior to prevent the unauthorized entry by retaining the outer knob against turning. At the outer face of the knob, there is a recessed conical face or depression 13 which terminates in a short cylindrical or annular flange 14 defining an access opening leading to the hollow interior of the knob.

A cap assembly 15 overlies the conical depression or recess 13 of the knob 11. This assembly comprises a back plate 16 and a cap or face plate 17. The back plate 16 has a conical surface 18 conforming to the conical recess 13 and terminates in a cylindrical part 19 which fits conformably within the cylindrical flange 14 of the knob. As best seen in FIG. 4, the part 19 is provided with a series of tabs 21 which extend into the hollow knob beyond the flange 14 where they are folded over and clinched to the flange 14 to firmly anchor the back plate to the knob. I

The face plate or cap 17 gives the final configuration to the outer face of the knob. This face plate has a conical surface 22 which conforms to and overlies'the conical surface 18 of back plate 16. The central termination of the face plate is formed with a cylindrical flange 23 which forms the defining surface for an opening 24 but stops short of the tabs 21 on the part 19. .The outer peripheral termination of conical surface. 22 of the face plate 17 is formed with a series of tabs 25 which can be best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. These tabs are folded over and clinched about the peripheral edge of the conical surface 18 of the back plate 16. a

In the assembly, the face plate 17 and the back plate 16 are initially attached together as shown with the outer tabs 25 locking these parts in assembled relation to form the novel cap assembly. Then the cap assembly 15 is attached to the knob 11. Not only is the knob 11 a standard element, but the back'plate 16 is also a standard element leaving any variation in the resulting knob and cap assembly entirely dueto the configuration of the cap or face plate 17. With the assembly as shown in FIG. 1, the opening 24 leading into the hollow interior of the knob 11 allows for the insertion therein and retention in the tubular cam or sleeve (not shown) connecting the knobs at the interior and exterior of the door, of a conforming privacy lock or latching means such as the usual tumbler lock, a push button or a turn button within the knob 11, its shank 12 and the connecting tubular part projecting through the door.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 disclose another embodiment of the novel knob and cap assembly for a passageway devoid of any privacy locking means in the knob 11. This knob 11 is sirnilar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, and is provided with a cylindrical shank 12, and a back plate 16, conformably received within the-conical depression 13 of the knob. A face plate or cap 26 has a conical surface 27 terminating in a small central access opening 28 only large enough to admit a small screwdriver or other tool into the interior of the knob assembly. Tabs 29 on the outer periphery of face plate 26 are folded over and clinched onto the outer peripheral edge of back plate 16 to form a cap assembly. The back plate 16 being similar to that shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, has tabs 21 to attach the cap assembly to the knob. This form is principally employed for the outer knob of a bathroom or toilet having a privacy lock on the inner knob and is to prevent a child or other occupant from being locked in.

When the knob and cap are assembled, the assembled unit is ready for use on the end of a cam tube or slotted sleeve projecting through a door or other closure. Each shank or cylindrical part 12 of the knob 11 is shown provided with a detent at 31 for attaching the knob to the projected end of the cam tube or slotted sleeve (not shown).

Although we have shown two illustrative embodiments of the invention, we do not wish to be limited by this disclosure, but claim all equivalents in the invention which are inherent in this disclosure and the appended claims.

Having disclosed the invention, we claim:

1. A knob and cap assembly comprising a knob having a conical depression terminating in a cylindrical flange defining an opening into the hollow interior of the knob, and a cap assembly for the outer face of the knob comprising a back plate and a face plate, said back plate having a conical surface overlying the conical depression of said knob and terminating in a cylindrical flange fitting within the encompassing cylindrical flange of said knob, said flange of the back plate having a series of projecting tabs folded over and clinched to the cylindrical flange of said knob, said face plate having a conical surface overlying the conical surface of the back plate and having a series of tabs at its outer periphery folded over and clinched to the outer peripheral edge of said back plate.

2. A knob and cap assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which the conical surface of said face plate has a central opening for receiving a privacy locking means.

3. A knob and cap assembly as set forth in claim 1 in which said face plate has a central access opening leading into said hollow knob.

4. A knob and cap assembly comprising a knob having a recessed conical face having an opening and a cap assembly overlying said recessed face, said cap assembly comprising a face plate and a back plate, said back plate having a surface complementary to said recessed face of said knob, said face plate having a series of peripheral tabs folded over and clinched to the periphery of said back plate and means on said back plate for securing said cap assembly to said knob at said opening in the knob.

5. A cap assembly for a knob of a door or other closure comprising a back plate having a conical outer surface with a central opening defined by a cylindrical flange, a plurality of tabs extending from and integral with said cylindrical flange and adapted to be clinched about a surface on the face of the knob and a face plate having a conical surface complementary to the conical surface of said back plate and a series of tabs on the outer periphery of said face plate clinched over to the outer periphery of said back plate, said tabs on the cylindrical portion of said back plate and the outer periphcry of said face plate being so arranged as to be concealed from view.

6. A knob and cap assembly comprising a knob having a recessed conical face provided with an access opening defined by an annular flange, and a cap assembly overlying the conical face of the knob and attached to the annular flange of the knob, comprising a face plate and a back plate, means on said face plate attaching the face plate to the back plate, a cylindrical flange defining an opening in said back plate and projecting into the opening in said knob, and spaced tabs on said cylindrical flange clinched over the end of the annular flange of said knob attaching the cap assembly to the knob.

7. A knob and cap assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which said face plate has a central opening defined by a cylindrical flange, said cylindrical flange being conformably received within the cylindrical flange of said back plate, the opening of said face plate being adapted to receive and house a privacy door locking mechanism.

8. A knob and cap assembly as set forth in claim 6 in which the face plate has a relatively small central opening for the insertion of a thin bladed instrument into the interior of said knob to release and permit opening of the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,954 Kalm Dec. 29, 1925 2,472,730 Smith June 7, 1949 2,709,911 Russell June 7, 1955 2,835,125 George May 20, 1958 2,885,880 Muttart May 12, 1959 

